Improvement in life-preservers



GEORGE OLAEK, Jn., OE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIFE-PRESERVERS.

Specitication forming part of Letters Patent No. l, dated April 14, 1874; application tiled September 13, 1873. l

vTo all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE CLARK, Jr., ot" Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification:

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple, and efoient means of instantly attaching a life-preserver to the body of any person, Whether large or small, With the same ease and facility; and it consists of a dat steel spring, to which pieces of cork or other buoyant material are attached, in such a manner asto form a sort of annular ring or belt, the ends of which lap by each other when in its Smallest diameter, or not in use; but when desired for use, its ends may be Seized with the hands and drawn apart sufficiently to pass each side of the body, when, if released, will contract so as to tit the body, and sustain themselves thereto lby the action of the recoil of the spring, thus adjusting and securing the preserver to the body automatically; it being self-sustaining, requires no other fastening, and admits of instant application in case of danger. By means of the recoil the same lifepreserver Will t the body of any person.

Figure l is a plan view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar View of my life-preserver when extended. Fig. 3 is a cross-vertical section through Fig. l.

A is a flat steel spring-band, the ends of n hch may be reduced in Width or thickness,

so as to admit Ot' its expansion equally throughout its entire length. B and C are the ends thereof, which may be grasped in each hand and drawn apart, so as to pass each Side ot' the body; when let free it recoils, and clasps the body with sufficient force to retain it in position. E E E E are pieces of cork or other light buoyant material, and more or less in number, as may be desired. These are connected to the at metal spring A by means of Wires S S, which are bent in the form of staples,

and their ends passed -through the pieces E E, and bent overl so as to secure them in place.

If desired, further fastenin gs may be attached, such as cords or straps, to more rmly secure the life-preservcr to the person; but

the spring alone is considered sufficient, and

being so simple and easy of adjustment that many persons will be able to apply them to themselves who Would fail with those heretofore constructed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- The above-described automatic life-preserver, constructed in such manner as to be self-adjusting, and sustained in position by means of its contraction or recoil, substantially in the manner described, as and for the purposes Set forth.

l GEO. CLARK, JE. Vitnesses:

SvLvENUs WALKER,

HORATIO N. HOLEROOK. 

